Shall-issue but mag cap (15 rd, dropping further), preemption repealed 2021, red-flag law, 3-day waiting period, expanded AWB-style restrictions effective 2026. Stand-your-ground via case law. Suppressors legal.

First state to legalize recreational cannabis (Amendment 64, 2012). Natural Medicine Health Act (Prop 122, 2022) decriminalized psilocybin, DMT, ibogaine, mescaline; first regulated psilocybin healing centers licensed March 2025. Automatic sealing of low-level cannabis convictions. Robust harm reduction.

State minimum wage $15.16/hr. MIT living wage for 1 adult: $17.21/hr. Ratio 0.88 — minimum-wage workers earn 88% of what's needed to live there alone.

Moderate tax burden, above-average NAEP scores, strong life expectancy (~79), good infrastructure. TABOR-constrained spending produces solid outcomes — efficient delivery. USNews top 20.

IJ grades CO B+ on forfeiture (HB 17-1313 conviction requirement, equitable-sharing limits). SB 20-217 (2020) - first state to abolish qualified immunity for state law claims under CO civil rights act, mandated body cams statewide with public access. No-knock warrants severely restricted. CPA (2021) comprehensive consumer privacy. ICE cooperation limited (HB 19-1124).

Universal vote-by-mail since 2013. 15 days early voting. Same-day and automatic registration. Non-photo ID accepted. Vote centers ensure polling access. Felons vote after release (parolees included since 2019). Independent redistricting commissions for both legislative and congressional maps. Model state for voting access; consistently ranked top by MIT Election Lab.

Medicaid expansion adopted 2014. Abortion legal with no gestational limit (Reproductive Health Equity Act 2022; Amendment 79 enshrined in constitution 2024). Gender-affirming care shield law (2023). Low uninsured rate. Strong mental health funding. Robust rural telehealth.

Eliminated qualified immunity in SB 20-217 (2020) - personal liability up to $25K for bad-faith violations. Statewide BWC mandate (SB 217) with release requirements. Disciplinary records public for sustained misconduct (SB 21-078). POST decertification with public database. No-knock restricted. Use-of-force law requires necessity and de-escalation. Chokeholds banned. Per-capita killings above median but reform infrastructure strong.

Abortion right enshrined in state constitution (2024 Amendment 79) with public funding. Comprehensive LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination. Shield law for reproductive and gender-affirming care. Conversion therapy ban (though SCOTUS Chiles v. Salazar 2026 weakened it). No religious mandates in schools. Strong church-state separation in Blaine Amendment.

Not a right-to-work state (Labor Peace Act). Paid family and medical leave (FAMLI 2024). Paid sick leave (HFWA). Federal OSHA but strong state Division of Labor Standards. Strong wage theft enforcement, recovery focused. Prevailing wage on public works. Heat protections for ag workers (HB21-1117). Domestic worker protections. Below-median fatal injury rate.